Attachment mounting apparatus for a railroad coupler

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for mounting an attachment structure (such as an EOT) to a railroad coupler includes a base, a locking member (J-hook), a bolt and one or more spring elements. The base includes a mounting portion for the attachment structure and a sleeve insertable through the attachment structure. The base, the J-hook and the bolt cooperate such that the J-hook is rotated from an unlocked position to a locked position by torque applied via the bolt head. Consequently, the J-hook shaft is pulled inside the sleeve and the J-hook aligns with a clamp face of the base to clamp a portion of the coupler therebetween. Responsive to the applied torque, the one or more spring elements are compressed to allow mechanical engagement between a first surface and a second surface, producing a mechanical torque opposing the applied torque, which reduces axial forces on the J-hook.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed generally to the field oflocomotives, and particularly to installation of an attachmentstructure, such as an end of train device (EOT), to a railroad coupler.

BACKGROUND

Railroad couplers include articulated coupling arrangements that areused for the purpose of connecting adjacently arranged ends of railwaytransport vehicles. Railroad couplers may often be used as a mountingpoint for attachment structures, such as an end of train device (EOT).An EOT is typically installed on a railroad coupler fixed to the lasttrain car of many modern freight trains. An EOT may house one or moresensors, for example for measuring brake pipe pressure, among others,and may also contain data communication equipment for transmittingsensor data to the locomotive crew.

To install an EOT to a railroad coupler, a mounting apparatus is used,which typically provides a mechanism for locking and unlocking the EOTin relation to the railroad coupler. For this purpose, the mountingapparatus may include a locking member which may be rotated from anunlocked position to a locked position, and vice versa. The torqueapplied for locking the EOT may lead to failure of the locking memberand/or other parts of the mounting apparatus over a period of time.

SUMMARY

Briefly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an improvedapparatus for mounting an attachment structure to a railroad coupler,and a corresponding method that may be used, in some embodiments, toretrofit an existing apparatus with the improved features.

A first aspect of the disclosure sets forth an apparatus for mounting anattachment structure to a railroad coupler. The apparatus comprises abase comprising a first clamp face, a mounting portion for theattachment structure and an elongated sleeve extending from the mountingportion. The sleeve is insertable through attachment structure. Theapparatus further comprises a locking member comprising a hook defininga second clamp face and a lock shaft extending from the hook, the lockshaft being hollow for at least a portion of the length thereof andinsertable through a first end of the of the sleeve adjacent themounting portion. The apparatus further comprises a bolt comprising abolt head and a bolt shaft. The bolt shaft is insertable through asecond end of the sleeve opposite the first end and configured to be inthreaded engagement with an inner surface of the hollow portion of thelock shaft after the lock shaft is inserted through the first end of thesleeve. The locking member is configured to be rotated from an unlockedposition to a locked position by torque applied via the bolt head,whereby the locking member is pulled inside the sleeve and the secondclamp face aligns with the first clamp face to clamp a portion of therailroad coupler therebetween. The apparatus further comprises one ormore spring elements configured to be compressible by relative movementbetween the bolt and the base responsive to the applied torque, toproduce a clamping force between the first and second clamp faces.Compression of the one or more spring elements causes a first surface tomechanically engage with a second surface to generate a mechanicaltorque that opposes the applied torque.

A second aspect of the disclosure sets forth a method for mounting anattachment structure to a railroad coupler. The method comprisesarranging a base, a locking member, a bolt and one or more springelements. The base comprises a first clamp face, a mounting portion forthe attachment structure and an elongated sleeve extending from themounting portion, the sleeve having a first end adjacent the mountingportion and a second end opposite the first end. The locking membercomprises a hook defining a second clamp face and a lock shaft extendingfrom the hook, the lock shaft being hollow for at least a portion of thelength thereof. The bolt comprises a bolt head and a bolt shaft. Themethod comprises inserting the sleeve of the base through the attachmentstructure, inserting the bolt through the second end of the sleeve, andinserting the lock shaft through the first end of the sleeve such thatthe bolt shaft is in threaded engagement with an inner surface of thehollow portion of the lock shaft. The method then comprises rotating thelocking member from an unlocked position to a locked position by torqueapplied via the bolt head, whereby the locking member is pulled insidethe sleeve and the second clamp face aligns with the first clamp face toclamp a portion of the railroad coupler therebetween. The one or morespring elements are compressed by relative movement between the bolt andthe base responsive to the applied torque, to produce a clamping forcebetween the first and second clamp faces. Compression of the one or morespring elements causes a first surface to mechanically engage with asecond surface to generate a mechanical torque that opposes the appliedtorque.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the present disclosure are bestunderstood from the following detailed description when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings. To easily identify thediscussion of any element or act, the most significant digit or digitsin a reference number refer to the figure number in which the element oract is first introduced.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an apparatus having a J-hook mountingdesign.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 after assembly,in an unlocked position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 after assembly,in a locked position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 when mounted toa railroad coupler.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, also showing an EOTinstalled on the railroad coupler.

FIG. 6 illustrates a redesigned eyebolt nut according to an exemplaryembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a redesigned eyebolt according to an exemplaryembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to an exemplaryembodiment of the disclosure, in an unlocked position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 8, in a lockedposition.

FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the configuration shown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various technologies that pertain to systems and methods will now bedescribed with reference to the drawings, where like reference numeralsrepresent like elements throughout. The drawings discussed below, andthe various embodiments used to describe the principles of the presentdisclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only andshould not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure.Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of thepresent disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arrangedapparatus. It is to be understood that functionality that is describedas being carried out by certain system elements may be performed bymultiple elements. Similarly, for instance, an element may be configuredto perform functionality that is described as being carried out bymultiple elements. The numerous innovative teachings of the presentapplication will be described with reference to exemplary non-limitingembodiments.

To facilitate understanding of the various views shown in the drawings,reference may be made to the mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes thatare consistently defined in the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1-5, one possible construction of an apparatus 100 isshown that may be used for mounting an attachment structure to arailroad coupler. Although the attachment structure described here is anEOT, teachings of the present disclosure may apply to mounting of othertypes of attachments to a railroad coupler.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view or an unassembled state of the apparatus100. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 depict an assembled state of the apparatus 100 inan unlocked position and in a locked position respectively. FIG. 4illustrates the apparatus 100 when mounted to a railroad coupler 400. Asshown, key functional components of the apparatus 100 include a base102, a locking member 104, a bolt 106 and one or more spring elements110. The EOT is intentionally not shown in the assembled views in FIG.2-4 to expose the functional components of the apparatus 100. FIG. 5illustrates an end view of the apparatus 100 showing the EOT 500installed on the railroad coupler 400.

The base 102 comprises a first clamp face 114, a mounting portion 116for mounting the EOT and an elongated sleeve 120 extending from themounting portion 116. The first clamp face 114 of the base 102cooperates with a second clamp face 124 of the locking member 104 toclamp a portion of the railroad coupler 400 therebetween, as shown inFIG. 4. The sleeve 120 may be generally cylindrical in construction,extending from a first end 128 to a second end 130. The first end 128 ofthe sleeve 120 is adjacent the mounting portion 116. The sleeve 120 isinsertable through a corresponding hole in the EOT housing from itssecond end 130 to position the EOT for mounting. The mounting portion116 may comprise one or more mounting points 118 (in this example, fourmounting points 118 are shown) for fastening the EOT to the base 102,for example, via bolted connections. The base 102 may further comprisean engagement portion 112 that may be designed, for example, to engagewith a standard railroad coupler. FIG. 4 shows a cutaway of the railroadcoupler 400, showing a side face 402 of the coupler 400. As shown inFIG. 4, the engagement portion 112 of the base 102 may be configured tomate into slots 404, 406 provided on the side face 402 of the coupler400.

The locking member 104 comprises a hook 122 defining the second clampface 124 and a lock shaft 126 extending from the hook 122. The lockshaft 126 is insertable into the sleeve 120 through the first end 128,such that the hook 122 remains outside the sleeve 120. The lock shaft126 is hollow, for least a portion along its length. The hollow portionis adjacent to an end of the lock shaft 126 opposite to the hook end,and is internally threaded.

The bolt 106 comprises a bolt head 132 and a bolt shaft 134. The boltshaft 134 is insertable through the second end 130 of the sleeve 120. Anend portion of the bolt shaft 134 is externally threaded (see FIG. 7) toallow the bolt shaft 134 to be in threaded engagement with an innersurface of the hollow portion of the lock shaft 126 after the lock shaft126 is inserted through the first end 128 of the sleeve 120 (see FIG.10). In the shown construction, the bolt 106 is an eyebolt, wherein thebolt head 132 defines an eye portion comprising an eye or opening 136for fastening a handle 138 to the bolt head 132, for example via a bolt140. Once fastened, the handle 138 extends normal to the bolt axis,allowing an operator to apply torque on the bolt head 132 via the handle138 for locking an unlocking the apparatus 100. In other constructions,instead of an eyebolt design, the bolt 106 may have a different design,where the bolt head 132 may be accordingly configured to engage withother torque application devices, such as wrenches, for locking orunlocking the apparatus 100.

In the shown configuration, the apparatus 100 further includes a nut 108installable on the bolt shaft 134. The nut 108 is insertable through thesecond end 130 of the sleeve 120 and configured to be in a threadedengagement with an inner surface of the sleeve 120. For this purpose,the nut 108 is externally threaded and the sleeve 120 is internallythreaded for at least a small portion of its length adjacent to itssecond end 130 (see FIG. 10).

The one or more spring elements 110 are positionable between the nut 108and the bolt head 132. The spring elements 110 may include, for example,washers. The present configuration may use one or more Bellevillewashers or any other construction that allows the washers 110 to beaxially compressible in relation to the bolt axis. The one or morewashers or spring elements 110 are compressed by torque applied to thebolt head 132 to produce a clamping force between the first clamp face114 and the second clamp face 124. The number and arrangement of washersor spring elements 110 used may be a matter of design choice based onthe clamping force desired.

The assembly of the apparatus 100 involves the steps of arranging thebase 102, the locking member 104 and the bolt assembly on the site ofthe railroad coupler 400. The one or more spring elements (in thisexample, washers) 110 are mounted on the bolt shaft 134 and slid all theway to the bolt head 132. The nut 108 may then be installed on the bolt106 such that the one or more spring elements 110 are positioned betweenthe nut 108 and the bolt head 132. Subsequently the sleeve 120 of thebase 102 is inserted (from the end 130) through a hole in the EOThousing. Next, the bolt 106 is inserted through the second end 130 ofthe sleeve 120 and the nut 108 is tightened into a threaded engagementwith an inner surface of the sleeve 120. Thereafter, the lock shaft 126is inserted through the first end 128 of the sleeve 120 such that thebolt shaft 134 is in threaded engagement with an inner surface of thehollow portion of the lock shaft 126. The EOT may be fastened to themounting points 118 on the base 102 by bolts.

Once the apparatus 100 is assembled, the locking member 104 may berotated from an unlocked position (see FIG. 2) to a locked position (seeFIG. 3) by torque applied via the bolt head 132, in this case, using thetorque handle 138 fastened to the eyebolt 106. As the torque is applied,the locking member 104 (in particular, the lock shaft 126) is pulledinside the sleeve 120 due to the threaded engagement between the boltshaft 134 and the lock shaft 126. In the process, the second clamp face124 on the hook 122 rotates to align with the first clamp face 114 onthe base 102 to clamp a portion of the railroad coupler therebetween(see FIG. 4). In the shown construction, the lock shaft 126 has a pin142 protruding therefrom. The pin 142 is positioned along the length ofthe lock shaft 126 such that during rotation of the locking member 104from an unlocked to a locked position, as the lock shaft 126 is pulledinto the sleeve 120, the pin 142 passes through an opening 146 adjacentthe first end 128 of the sleeve 120. As the lock shaft 126 continues tobe threaded in, the pin 142 engages into a guide channel 144 on thesleeve 120. The guide channel 144 is shaped to guide a rotation of thepin 142 by 90 degrees and limit further rotation of the lock shaft 126.The lock shaft 126 further comprises a step 148 that engages against thesides of the opening 146 to lock the rotation of the locking member 104.During the locking operation, after the second clamp face 124 on thehook 122 contacts the inside surface of the coupler 400 (see FIG. 4),additional torque compresses the one or more spring elements 110,causing a clamping force between the second clamp face 124 on the hook122 and the first clamp face 114 on the base 102. This clamping forcelocks the EOT 500 to the coupler 400 (see FIG. 5). The EOT 500 may beuninstalled from the coupler 400 by applying a counter torque to movethe locking member 104 from the locked position to an unlocked position.

The large applied torque during installation of the EOT transfers highloads to the locking member 104. For example, high torque on the handle138 may generate a high axial load on the lock shaft 126, leading tobending failure of the locking member 104. The high torque on the handle138 may also transfer a high torque to the base 102 through the step 148and the pin 142. This high torque may cause failure of the lock shaft126, the step 148, as well as the base 102.

Aspects of the present disclosure address the above described problem byproviding a built-in feature that produces an opposing mechanical torque(for example, by frictional forces or interlocking forces) responsive tothe applied torque. Specifically, the embodiments described herein aredesigned such that, responsive to the applied torque, the compression ofthe one or more spring elements due to relative motion between the baseand the bolt causes a first surface to mechanically engage with a secondsurface, to generate a mechanical torque that opposes the appliedtorque. The opposing mechanical torque significantly reduces the axialforce and torque on the lock shaft and step and the guide channel of thebase, thereby prolonging the lifetime of these components.

In one embodiment, a recess may be formed into either the first surfaceor the second surface, for receiving therein the one or more springelements. The recess may be sized to a length that fully accommodatesthe one or more spring elements in a compressed state of the one or morespring elements, and partially accommodates the one or more springelements in their uncompressed state. This allows the first and secondsurfaces to remain separated when the one or more spring elements are intheir uncompressed state and the first and second surfaces to contactdirectly when the one or more spring elements are in their compressedstate.

In a first implementation of the above, the first surface is an axialend face of the bolt head and the second surface is an axial end face ofthe nut. The term “axial” in this context pertains to the bolt axis. Anexemplary implementation is illustrated in FIG. 6-10. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7respectively show an inventive nut 600 and an inventive bolt 700, thatcooperate to realize the above-mentioned feature. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9respectively illustrate an unlocked position and a locked position of amodified mounting apparatus 800 employing the inventive features shownin FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the configurationshown in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 6, an inventive nut 600 is designed to have a recess602 to receive therein the one or more spring elements 110. The springelements 110 may comprise washers, as in the previously describedconfiguration, or any other type of spring compressible to produce aclamping force. In the shown example, the inventive nut 600 is designedwith an axially extended portion 610 (in relation to the previouslyshown nut 108) where the recess 602 is formed. On the other end, the nut600 has an externally threaded portion 612 configured to engage with theinternal threading of the sleeve 120 of the base 102, as previouslydescribed. The recess 602 may be sized to an axial length that partiallyaccommodates the one or more spring elements 110 in their uncompressedstate. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8 (unlocked position), in theiruncompressed state, the one or more spring elements 110 partially extendout of the recess 602, preventing contact between an axial end face 604of the nut 600 and an axial end face 704 of the bolt head 702 of thebolt 700. Furthermore, the axial length of the recess 602 of the nut 600is sized to fully accommodate the one or more spring elements 110 in acompressed state of the one or more spring elements 110. Thus, as shownin FIG. 9 (locked position), in their compressed state, the one or morespring elements 110 are located completely within the recess in the nut600, such that the axial end face 604 of the nut 600 directly contactsaxial end face 704 of the bolt head 702. Still referring to FIG. 6, therecess 602 is delimited by a wall 606 on one end of the recess 602, suchthat the one or more spring elements are compressible between the wall606 and the axial end face 704 of the bolt head 702.

Referring to FIG. 7, the inventive bolt 700 comprises a bolt head 702and a bolt shaft 706. The bolt head 702 has an axial end face 704 thatis configured mechanically engage with the axial end face 604 of the nut600. The bolt shaft 706 has an externally threaded portion 708configured to engage with the internal threading of the hollow part ofthe lock shaft 126, and a shank portion 710 on which the nut 600 isinstalled. The inventive bolt 700 may be designed to have an enlargedbolt head 702 in relation to the bolt head 132 of the bolt 106 shown inFIG. 1-5. In particular, the bolt head 702 is enlarged by addingmaterial such that its axial end face 704 has increased contact areawith the axial end face 604 of the nut 600. In other embodiments,alternate to or in addition to the bolt head, the nut may be enlarged toenhance contact area between the axial end faces of the nut and the bolthead. It is to be noted that the modification to the bolt head and/ornut (adding excess material), while being beneficial in maximizingmechanical torque, may be optional as long it is possible to realizesufficient mechanical torque by engagement between the nut and the bolthead without modification of the bolt head from the configuration shownin FIG. 1-5.

In the shown embodiment, the engaging surfaces 604, 704 (see FIG. 6 andFIG. 7 respectively) may be configured to generate frictional torqueupon their engagement responsive to the applied torque, when the one ormore spring elements 110 are sufficiently compressed. To that end, inone embodiment, one or both of the surfaces 604 and 704 may be processedto increase or decrease their surface roughness to a defined level, toachieve a required frictional torque opposing the applied torque.

In another variant, the engaging surfaces 604, 704 may be provided withinterlocking features, such as ridges and/or grooves. The interlockingfeatures of the surfaces 604, 704, when engaged, would produce amechanical torque (beyond a frictional torque) to oppose the appliedtorque. In still other variants, a combination of frictional andinterlocking features may be employed.

In a different implementation, a similar effect may be realized bydesigning a recess into the bolt head instead of the nut. Like in thedescribed embodiment, the recess in the bolt head may be sized toaccommodate the one or more spring elements fully in their compressedstate but only partially in their uncompressed state. This would ensurethat the axial end faces of the bolt head and that of the nutmechanically engage when the one or more spring elements aresufficiently compressed by the applied torque, to generate a mechanicaltorque (e.g., using frictional and/or interlocking features) to opposethe applied torque. As in the previously described embodiment, therecess in the bolt head may be delimited by a wall such the one or morespring elements are compressible between that wall and the axial endface of the nut.

In yet other implementations, the use of a nut may be obviated, and thefeatures of the nut may be built into the base or into the attachmentstructure itself. For example, in one embodiment, the first and secondmechanically engageable surfaces may be realized by an axial end face ofthe bolt head and an axial end face of the sleeve of the base,respectively. In another embodiment, the first and second mechanicallyengageable surfaces may be realized by an axial end face of the bolthead and a surface of the attachment structure (in this example, thesurface of the EOT 500 visible in FIG. 5), respectively. In theseembodiments, the recess may be formed into either the first surface (onthe bolt head) or into the second surface (sleeve or attachmentstructure). The first and/or second surfaces may be provided withfrictional and/or interlocking features, as described above.

Additionally or alternate to the above described embodiments, themechanically engaging surfaces that generate the opposing mechanicaltorque may be realized by still other pairs of surfaces. For example, inone embodiment, a first mechanically engaging surface may be realized bythe outer surface of the bolt shaft 706, such as in a shank portion 710of the bolt shaft 706 (see FIG. 7) and a second mechanically engagingsurface may be defined at an inner surface 608 of the nut (see FIG. 6)which is configured to mechanically engage with the shank portionresponsive to the applied torque. In another embodiment, the first andsecond surfaces may be realized by an outer surface of the bolt shaftand an inner surface of the sleeve of the base, respectively. The firstand/or second surfaces may be provided with frictional and/orinterlocking features, as described above.

The assembly of the apparatus 800 is largely similar to that of theapparatus 100, the description of which will not be repeated. In thecase of the apparatus 800, as a torque is applied to rotate the lockingmember 104 from an unlocked to a locked position, the compression of theone or more spring elements due to relative motion between the base andthe bolt causes a first surface to mechanically engage with a secondsurface, to generate a mechanical torque that opposes the appliedtorque. In one embodiment, the method may involve retrofitting anexisting mounting apparatus (such as the apparatus 100) with theimproved features as described herein above. The retrofit may involvereplacing a used bolt and a used nut with a replacement bolt and areplacement nut that have the features according to any of the abovedescribed embodiments.

The system and processes of the figures are not exclusive. Other systemsand processes may be derived in accordance with the principles of thedisclosure to accomplish the same objectives. Although this disclosurehas been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the embodiments and variations shown and describedherein are for illustration purposes only. Modifications to the currentdesign may be implemented by those skilled in the art, without departingfrom the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for mounting an attachment structureto a railroad coupler, the apparatus comprising: a base comprising afirst clamp face, a mounting portion for the attachment structure and anelongated sleeve extending from the mounting portion, the sleeve beinginsertable through attachment structure, a locking member comprising ahook defining a second clamp face and a lock shaft extending from thehook, the lock shaft being hollow for at least a portion of the lengththereof and insertable through a first end of the of the sleeve adjacentthe mounting portion, a bolt comprising a bolt head and a bolt shaft,the bolt shaft being insertable through a second end of the sleeveopposite the first end and configured to be in threaded engagement withan inner surface of the hollow portion of the lock shaft after the lockshaft is inserted through the first end of the sleeve, wherein thelocking member is configured to be rotated from an unlocked position toa locked position by torque applied via the bolt head, whereby thelocking member is pulled inside the sleeve and the second clamp facealigns with the first clamp face to clamp a portion of the railroadcoupler therebetween, and one or more spring elements configured to becompressible by relative movement between the bolt and the baseresponsive to the applied torque, to produce a clamping force betweenthe first and second clamp faces, wherein compression of the one or morespring elements causes a first surface to mechanically engage with asecond surface to generate a mechanical torque that opposes the appliedtorque.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a recess is formed throughone of the first and second surfaces for receiving therein the one ormore spring elements, wherein the recess is sized to a length that fullyaccommodates the one or more spring elements in a compressed state ofthe one or more spring elements, such that the first surface directlycontacts the second surface when the one or more spring elements arecompressed, and wherein the length of the recess partially accommodatesthe one or more spring elements in their uncompressed state, such thatthe one or more spring elements prevent direct contact between the firstsurface and the second surface in their uncompressed state.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the first surface is an axial end face ofthe bolt head and the second surface is an axial end face of a nut whichis installable on the bolt shaft and configured to be tightened into athreaded engagement with an inner surface of the sleeve through thesecond end of the sleeve.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bolthead and/or the nut is enlarged to increase contact area therebetweenwhen the one or more spring elements are compressed.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the first surface is an axial end face of the bolt headand the second surface is an axial end face of the sleeve of the base ora surface of the attachment structure.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the recess is delimited by a wall, wherein the one or morespring elements are compressible between the wall and the other of theof the first and second surfaces.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe first surface is an outer surface of the bolt shaft and the secondsurface is an inner surface of the sleeve of the base or an innersurface of a nut which is installable on the bolt shaft and configuredto be tightened into a threaded engagement with an inner surface of thesleeve through the second end of the sleeve.
 8. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the first surface and the second surface are configured togenerate a frictional torque upon mechanical engagement that opposes theapplied torque.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first surfaceand/or the second surface are provided with a defined surface roughnessbased on a required frictional torque.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the first surface and the second surface are provided withinterlocking features, which, when engaged, oppose the applied torque.11. A method for mounting an attachment structure to a railroad coupler,the method comprising: arranging: a base comprising a first clamp face,a mounting portion for the attachment structure and an elongated sleeveextending from the mounting portion, the sleeve having a first endadjacent the mounting portion and a second end opposite the first end, alocking member comprising a hook defining a second clamp face and a lockshaft extending from the hook, the lock shaft being hollow for at leasta portion of the length thereof, a bolt having a bolt head and a boltshaft, and one or more spring elements, inserting the sleeve of the basethrough the attachment structure, inserting the bolt through the secondend of the sleeve, inserting the lock shaft through the first end of thesleeve such that the bolt shaft is in threaded engagement with an innersurface of the hollow portion of the lock shaft, rotating the lockingmember from an unlocked position to a locked position by torque appliedvia the bolt head, whereby the locking member is pulled inside thesleeve and the second clamp face aligns with the first clamp face toclamp a portion of the railroad coupler therebetween, wherein the one ormore spring elements are compressed by relative movement between thebolt and the base responsive to the applied torque, to produce aclamping force between the first and second clamp faces, whereincompression of the one or more spring elements causes a first surface tomechanically engage with a second surface to generate a mechanicaltorque that opposes the applied torque.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein a recess is formed through one of the first and second surfacesfor receiving therein the one or more spring elements, wherein therecess is sized to a length that fully accommodates the one or morespring elements in a compressed state of the one or more springelements, such that the first surface directly contacts the secondsurface when the one or more spring elements are compressed, and whereinthe length of the recess partially accommodates the one or more springelements in their uncompressed state, such that the one or more springelements prevent direct contact between the first surface and the secondsurface in their uncompressed state.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereinthe first surface is an axial end face of the bolt head and the secondsurface is an axial end face of a nut which is installed on the boltshaft and tightened into a threaded engagement with an inner surface ofthe sleeve through the second end of the sleeve.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 13, comprising replacing a used bolt and a used nutwith a replacement bolt and the replacement nut, wherein the first andsecond surfaces are defined respectively on the replacement bolt and thereplacement nut, wherein the replacement nut and/or replacement bolt aremodified in relation to the used nut and/or the used bolt respectively,to enhance a contact area therebetween when the one or more springelements are compressed.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the firstsurface is an axial end face of the bolt head and the second surface isan axial end face of the sleeve of the base or an axial end face of theattachment structure.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the recess isdelimited by a wall, wherein the one or more spring elements arecompressible between the wall and the other of the of the first andsecond surfaces.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first surfaceis an outer surface of the bolt shaft and the second surface is an innersurface of the sleeve of the base or an inner surface of a nut which isinstallable on the bolt shaft and configured to be tightened into athreaded engagement with an inner surface of the sleeve through thesecond end of the sleeve.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the firstsurface and the second surface are provided with frictional and/orinterlocking features.
 19. The method of claim 11, comprising fasteningthe attachment structure at mounting points provided on the mountingportion of the base.
 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the attachmentstructure is an end of train device (EOT).